The second half of the college football’s regular season kicked off Thursday night, and it continues today with a full schedule that includes two head-to-head, night-time matchups of ranked teams.

Here is a look at many of the matchups we’ll be watching (all times Eastern):

Louisville at Florida State

Noon | ESPN | Line: Florida State by 6.5

Just how bad has it gotten for Louisville’s defense? The Cardinals (4-3, 1-3 ACC) rank 85th nationally in scoring D after giving up 45 points in a loss to a Boston College team that had not scored that many points against a Power 5 team since 2009. BC’s 555 yards in that game marked its most in nine years.

So yes, the Cards’ D looks to be fairly inviting for a Florida State offense that is last in the ACC in scoring (18.2 ppg). Though quarterback James Blackman had quite the challenge early on, the true freshman in the past two games has completed 35 of 49 passes for 400 yards with three touchdowns against four interceptions.

The question for the Seminoles (2-3, 2-2) comes on the other side of the ball, where their four forced turnovers are the least in the ACC. Let’s not forget that Louisville still has Lamar Jackson, too, and all he did last year against FSU was cement his Heisman frontrunner status in a 63-20 Week 3 win.

— Matt Fortuna

Maryland at No. 5 Wisconsin

Noon | FOX | Line: Wisconsin by 24

There’s no rest for the weary, or, in this case, yet another beleaguered Maryland quarterback. Head coach D.J. Durkin hasn’t given much away this week in terms of Max Bortenschlager’s health after taking a hit to his head last weekend, but between Bortenschlager and fourth-string quarterback Caleb Henderson, nothing will come easy for the Terrapins (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) against a Wisconsin defense that’s the best in the league against the run and fifth in the conference against the pass.

Perhaps the more disheartening angle in this matchup is related to Maryland’s defense. Wisconsin (6-0, 3-0), per usual, has a consistent run game and one of the best backs in the country. Freshman Jonathan Taylor leads the Big Ten in rushing yards (986), yards per game (164.3) and touchdowns (10). And Maryland’s run defense is third worst in the conference, allowing 174.33 rushing yards per game. This is where things could go from challenging to disastrous.

— Nicole Auerbach

No. 10 Oklahoma State at Texas

Noon | ABC | Line: Oklahoma State by 6

The Cowboys (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) have a couple tough road tune-ups — at Texas and West Virginia — before their Nov. 4 showdown with Oklahoma. Their Big 12 title hopes are on the line every week now after losing to TCU. But they’ll go in this stretch with some confidence, having won four in a row in Austin. To keep this close, Texas (3-3, 2-1) needs to protect Sam Ehlinger and figure out how to run the ball without running back Kyle Porter, who’ll miss this game with a chest injury.

The matchup to watch is between Oklahoma State’s elite receiving corps and Texas’ cornerbacks, whose play beyond Holton Hill has been unreliable. Texas gave up 11 completions of 20-plus yards in the past two weeks. Even if Hill can keep up with midseason All-American James Washington, Marcell Ateman and Jalen McCleskey can do just as much damage.

— Max Olson

Arizona State at Utah

3:30 p.m. | FS1 | Line: Utah by 10.5

The Utes (4-2 overall, 1-2 Pac-12) have been without starting quarterback Tyler Huntley since an injury midway through the second quarter of Utah’s conference opener against Arizona on Sept. 22. With backup QB Troy Williams, Utah has gone 1-2 since, with its two losses coming in close games against Stanford and then-No. 13 USC. But Huntley returned to practice this week, working out in full pads starting Tuesday. Neither he nor coach Kyle Whittingham would commit to anything in terms of starting/playing on Saturday.

Quarterback play against ASU (3-3, 2-1), which upset Washington last weekend thanks to a stout defensive effort, is going to be crucial. Huntley, against lesser competition in the non-conference, completed 73.3 percent of his passes and threw six touchdowns with two interceptions. In the last three games, Williams completed 52.9 percent of his passes and threw two touchdowns and three interceptions.

Arizona State’s defense against the Huskies was legit, and with only one conference loss and a looming matchup against USC (it gets the Trojans at home in a night game on Oct. 28), the Sun Devils have a real shot to shake things up in the South. Going 2-0 in these next two weeks could push ASU to the top of the South standings.

— Chantel Jennings

Tennessee at No. 1 Alabama

3:30 p.m. | CBS | Line: Alabama by 33

Does Tennessee still have a pulse? The Volunteers (3-3, 0-3 SEC) haven’t scored an offensive touchdown since the second quarter of a 17-13 win against still-winless UMass on Sept. 23. After consecutive home losses to Georgia and South Carolina have placed Butch Jones squarely on the hot seat, what realistic chance does Tennessee have to even keep it close in Tuscaloosa?

No. 1 Alabama (7-0, 4-0) has scored 24 offensive touchdowns in its last four games. Tennessee has scored four in that same span. Tennessee lost 49-10 at home last year to Alabama, so a second consecutive lopsided defeat to the Vols’ cross-division rival might be the final straw.

— Jason Kersey

No. 20 UCF at Navy

3:30 p.m. | CBSSN | Line: UCF by 6.5

Scott Frost suited up as the scout team quarterback this week to get UCF (5-0 overall, 3-0 AAC) prepared for Navy’s triple-option offense. The Knights — allowing 3.6 yards per carry, No. 36 nationally — are up against a Navy offense averaging more than 6.1 per carry. Last week, the Midshipmen (5-1, 3-1) turned over the ball five times in a three-point loss at Memphis after Navy coaches felt they had solved ball security issues.

On the other side, UCF leads the nation scoring 50.6 points per game. No one has stopped the Knights’ offense or quarterback McKenzie Milton. Navy is going to need to take care of the ball and put together long drives to keep UCF off the field. It will also need to prevent explosive plays. Navy has allowed 31 plays of at least 20 yards, No. 81 nationally. UCF’s offense is averaging eight such plays per game.

— Chris Vannini

Syracuse at No. 8 Miami

3:30 p.m. | ESPN | Line: Miami by 14.5

Syracuse (4-3, 2-1 ACC) will not be sneaking up on anybody anymore, not after knocking off then-No. 2 Clemson last week. But can the Orange make it a one-two knockout of the ACC’s unbeatens?

Miami (5-0, 3-0) has had a flair for the dramatic, winning its past two games in the final seconds by five total points. Still, there is something to be said for this young Hurricanes team, as its confidence is growing by the week — in a league that is as wide open as it has ever been.

Behind a balanced attack, the Canes have raced to No. 2 in the ACC in total offense and No. 3 in scoring (34.6), which is surprisingly better than Dino Babers’ Orange attack (31.3). The question is whether the Canes’ defense can bounce back from facing a triple-option offense in time to adjust to the ACC’s No. 2 passing attack, a challenge that has often proven to be steep for even the most talented of teams.

— Matt Fortuna

Kentucky at Mississippi State

4 p.m. | SEC | Line: Mississippi State by 10

A Kentucky win would give the Wildcats (5-1, 2-1 SEC) bowl eligibility for a second consecutive year, and a 6-1 start for the first time since 2007.

Kentucky ranks second in the SEC in turnover margin, and clutch takeaways have often been the differences between wins and losses for the Wildcats this season. Mississippi State (4-2, 1-2), meanwhile, has turned the ball over seven times in its past three games.

Mississippi State — led offensively by quarterback Nick Fitzgerald and running back Aeris Williams — is at its best when it can run the ball effectively. The Bulldogs rank third in the SEC in rushing offense (261.67 yards per game), but Kentucky ranks third in rushing defense, allowing 97.17 yards per game on the ground. The winner of that particular matchup could be the difference in the game.

— Jason Kersey

No. 9 Oklahoma at Kansas State

4 p.m. | FOX | Line: Oklahoma by 12.5

Oklahoma’s defense is trying to get on the right track, and this is the week to do it. The Sooners (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) have forced five turnovers — tied for ninth fewest in the FBS — and are giving up scores on 95 percent of all red-zone drives. This week, though, they face a Kansas State offense that couldn’t get much going last week without quarterback Jesse Ertz.

Backup Alex Delton completed 38 percent of his passes in his first career start against TCU and finished with 39 rushing yards on 19 carries. The Wildcats (3-3, 1-2) need him to take a big step forward this week, and more productivity from his running backs would help.

After squandering a 20-0 lead last week against Texas, Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley said his team needs to learn to step on their foe’s throat when they have a lead. If they can get ahead early on K-State this week, the Sooners must prove they can finish.

— Max Olson

No. 19 Michigan at No. 2 Penn State

7:30 p.m. | ABC | Line: Penn State by 12.5

For all the talk of a strength vs. strength — Penn State’s explosive offense vs. Michigan’s smothering defense — Saturday’s outcome might not actually hinge on those factors. The core question of this matchup is simple: Can the Wolverines (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) score enough to stay in the game?

John O’Korn and the passing game have given little hope of that, especially against a secondary in Penn State (6-0, 3-0) that ranks second only to Michigan in yards per attempt allowed and is tied for 13th in interceptions. The key becomes the Michigan run game. Karan Higdon has emerged as the Wolverines’ go-to running back, and he is coming off a 200-yard, three-touchdown performance on 25 carries against Indiana.

What’s been most encouraging about Higdon is not his raw output, but rather the way he’s gained yardage on the ground; the run game had become way too predictable and lodged between the tackles earlier this season. It’s a lot to ask for one player — behind a not-always-reliable offensive line — to nearly single-handedly keep pace in a game against a Heisman Trophy-caliber running back and one of the best quarterbacks in the country. But that’s what Michigan will need to do.

— Nicole Auerbach

No. 11 USC at No. 13 Notre Dame

7:30 p.m. | NBC | Line: Notre Dame by 3.5

In some ways, this game is bigger for Notre Dame. Win this, and everything is in front of the Irish (5-1), from a manageable opportunity next week against No. 16 N.C. State to later contests at No. 8 Miami and No. 22 Stanford. Lose this, and those challenges look all the more difficult.

USC, meanwhile, finds itself in somewhat of an opposite situation: This is the Trojans’ last major challenge after a brutal first-half schedule, and they don’t face a single ranked team the in the remainder of the regular season. They would then be idle ahead of the Pac-12 title game with a potential Playoff opportunity on the line.

USC (6-1, 4-1 Pac-12) hasn’t had a week off all season, and it won’t before that potential December game. Notre Dame is coming off an open week, and the Irish enter this game with the nation’s No. 5 rushing offense.

Statistically, this is a matchup that favors the Irish, as the Trojans rank 67th in total defense. That can be partly attributed to the USC offense placing it in compromising situations, as the Trojans have turned the ball over 16 times — tying them for the fourth-worst mark in the FBS.

If Sam Darnold and Co. can protect the ball, USC has a chance at the win. They have yet to do that, though, and Notre Dame’s defense has been one of the nation’s most improved units behind first-year coordinator Mike Elko.

— Matt Fortuna

Arizona at Cal

8 p.m. | Pac-12 | Line: Arizona by 3.5

You probably didn’t hear Khalil Tate’s name in any national preview this season. The Arizona (4-2, 2-1 Pac-12) quarterback was playing second fiddle to Brandon Dawkins, and it was easy to understand why. Dawkins, who played well in fall camp and had nine starts under his belt, was the smart choice for an offense that would face Houston in the non-conference slate and would get Utah out of the gates in the Pac-12.

But, here we are, heading into our third weekend in October and arguably the most impressive player this month has been Tate. In two wins against Colorado and UCLA he has combined for 302 passing yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions while completing 81 percent of his passes. But it’s not his arm that has made him a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators. It’s his feet. In those two games, Tate rushed for six touchdowns and 557 yards on 29 carries (19.2 yards per carry).

Rodriguez has had dual-threat QBs before — Pat White at West Virginia, Denard Robinson at Michigan — so maybe it’s not a surprise to see a talent like Tate on a Rodriguez-led team. But this weekend he’ll face his toughest challenge yet with a Cal defense that held Washington State to three points last weekend. Tate will have to make good decisions against the Bears (4-3, 1-3), who have held teams to 151 rushing yards per game.

— Chantel Jennings

Fresno State at San Diego State

10:30 p.m. | CBSSN | Line: San Diego State by 7.5

SDSU’s New Year’s Six hopes took a hit last week with a loss to Boise State. Now they have to rebound in a suddenly-huge division game. The Aztecs (6-1, 2-1 MWC) are behind Fresno State (4-2, 3-0) in the West division, and a loss would put SDSU two games back. The Bulldogs have turned around quickly in Jeff Tedford’s first year, in part thanks to a CFL-infused defense that is allowing 20 points per game, a 10-point improvement from a year ago. Can SDSU running back Rashaad Penny get back on track? Fresno State is allowing 3.4 yards per carry, No. 23 nationally.

The Bulldog offense is even more improved, averaging 33 points per game, nearly double a year ago. Fresno State’s multi-pronged rushing offense has just six turnovers in six games, while SDSU has been one of the best defenses in forcing turnovers in recent years.